AOW curriculum/value??

[FireInMyBones]

I would have failed those people if I would have even let them start the class to begin with. Poor attitude will get you turned down for my AOW class. Disregard for procedures, especially safety will get you thrown out of it. No refund, just bye bye. Like Bob (NW Grateful) I see AOW as much more than just a card and that is why I do not accept just anyone for the class.

I offer 6 core dives- Advanced Skills, UW Nav, Night/Low Vis, Deep, Search and Recovery, and Buddy Skills and Assist. I will sub wreck for S&R but that's it. Buoyancy and weighting are worked on every dive. Students must be able to perform all basic skills neutral and horizontal in mid water before starting the course. I may require pool sessions and a couple OW dives to verify skill and comfort levels (at my expense on my time). Buddy skills are strictly enforced. One separation is an accident. Two is not. There is never a good reason for buddy separation in my class.

I teach gas planning, deco procedures, bag shooting, use of slung pony bottle, deep stops, and multilevel diving as part of the overall course. If you want a card to just do dives where the ops require it then this probably is not the course for you. If you want new skills, confidence, knowledge, and increased safety and comfort then it just may be. I include the rescue skills we teach in OW class such as unconscious diver from depth, panicked diver, and rescue tows. I also throw in buddy assisted no mask swims and ascents, no mask air share swims and ascents, and loss of buoyancy assist ascent and support. I do not do tour dives. Every dive has skills that must be performed to my satisfaction. The course has been called enlightening, educational, tough, humbling, and even credited with improving communication between couples!

It is also a lot of fun and I love teaching it.

That is a great attitude to have. I wish my instructors had the gall to turn people away. What is wrong with the industry? Thank you for being safety conscious.


I had to learn buoyancy and trim on my own. No one stressed it in class. I do a lot of self study and research before, and after, any class. I recommend reading and absorbing everything you can get your hands on. Make wise choices from what you learn. Then...blow your instructor away and maybe (s)he will teach you extra stuff.

 

[Scott]

Actually that is one positive they won't be doing any of the dives in the crater. Blue Lake will be for the navigation and the deep dive. Not sure what they have planned for an altitude dive. The fee for the class will also include Nitrox cert which will come in handy down the road.

That's a nice touch that they are including Nitrox.

Blue Lake is good for navigation. Large, varying contours and some limited vis. Zero vis if a large group is there. Head east.
You'll also have 'something' to see on the deep dive besides a bench like the Crater.
Hopefully they will give some underwater tasks on the altitude dive. Ask them what they have planned or ask if they will add something. I'll add shooting a bag, different fining techniques, buoyancy drills, refreshing skills, site tour, site clean up, add the multi-level/computer module, or whatever I think the group or an individual could improve on, or just let them dive. It really depends.

Keep an open mind and have FUN.

 

[Brian Sharpe]

......

I teach gas planning, deco procedures, bag shooting, use of slung pony bottle, deep stops, and multilevel diving as part of the overall course. If you want a card to just do dives where the ops require it then this probably is not the course for you. If you want new skills, confidence, knowledge, and increased safety and comfort then it just may be. I include the rescue skills we teach in OW class such as unconscious diver from depth, panicked diver, and rescue tows. I also throw in buddy assisted no mask swims and ascents, no mask air share swims and ascents, and loss of buoyancy assist ascent and support. I do not do tour dives. Every dive has skills that must be performed to my satisfaction. The course has been called enlightening, educational, tough, humbling, and even credited with improving communication between couples!

It is also alot of fun and I love teaching it.

Jim, I wish you were teaching in Ottawa!

I did my AOW last summer and really enjoyed it but we certainly didn't get into what you cover. My Rescue course was supposed to start this month but has been delayed waiting for one more student.

The course I'm both looking forward to and am apprehensive about (if I'm lucky enough to get in) is the GUE Fundies - we finally have an instructor in Eastern Ontario and he's planning on running a course in Kingston late this May.

 

[vladimir]

Liveaboard operations, resorts, etc require an advanced certification for some dives.

I am not disputing this but, to put it in perspective, I have ~750 dives in quite a few different locations, including 11 liveaboard trips, and nobody has ever asked for an advanced certification or limited my access to any dive site. It does happen though; it happened to Hitler on three different boats:

 

[Mike Boswell]

I would have failed those people if I would have even let them start the class to begin with. Poor attitude will get you turned down for my AOW class. Disregard for procedures, especially safety will get you thrown out of it.

Hello Jim,

Just to clarify, IMO none of the folks in ANY of my classes showed poor attitude or disregard for procedures, and I can see by your reaction that I overstated the case.

The OP wondered if he would get any value from his investment in the AOW class. My comments about my own experiences were meant to point out that the harder you work at it, the more you will get out of the experience, nothing more.

 

[FireInMyBones]

I am not disputing this but, to put it in perspective, I have ~750 dives in quite a few different locations, including 11 liveaboard trips, and nobody has ever asked for an advanced certification or limited my access to any dive site. It does happen though; it happened to Hitler on three different boats:

I was waiting on someone to post this. After the first time I saw it I could only laugh.

 

[Jim Lapenta]

You did not overstate your case. I have a contract or learning agreement that spells out the responsibilities of myself and the students. It covers coming to class unprepared, late, exhibiting less than full attention to the subject, etc. It is my name on the person's c card. Their actions, skill, and knowledge are a direct reflection of my ability as an educator. As such I expect the same effort to learn as I do to teach and the same respect I show them. Showing up late, eating in class, etc would not be accepted if I were the one doing it. So why would a student feel they could?

 

[vladimir]

I was waiting on someone to post this. After the first time I saw it I could only laugh.

It's too good not to post again, even though it's in a few other threads. Maybe I missed it, but I still haven't seen anybody take credit for this.

 

[shoredivr]

I am not disputing this but, to put it in perspective, I have ~750 dives in quite a few different locations, including 11 liveaboard trips, and nobody has ever asked for an advanced certification or limited my access to any dive site. It does happen though; it happened to Hitler on three different boats:

Now that was hysterical, thanks Vlad!
*cough* snort...

ahem

I went directly from OW to AOW and I'm thankful I did so, it gave me the framework to do many kinds of dives, not to mention that the charters who want AOW were not worried about me. Best plan for me.

 

[TSandM]

These people would no doubt be the very same ones who would now say they got little out of the class, and I would agree.

I showed up on time and prepared to every class, and I got very little out of AOW, and I took it immediately following OW. It's a class that is incredibly dependent on the desire of the instructor to make it meaningful.